As I attempt to orient the windy and often treacherous roads that encapsulate life, here are some of my thoughts on the successes, failures and ultimately the hope and positivity in which I strive for a better world. I also hope that I can use this blog as a platform to elevate the social justice issues that are somewhat forgotten in the modern discourse of staying silent on issues that challenge.

Monthly Archives: December 2016

I write this post on the most poignant of days, that of your birthday. When I was younger I was guilty of not understanding the depth of your love and the unlimited amount of sacrifice that you poured into my upbringing without saying a word. I often times I told you that I felt overwhelmed by your presence in my life, however I was but a child and could not fathom what it was to be a mother.

Each year that passes throughout my existence, I begin to understand just how deep of an effect your love and acceptance has had on my life. You have been my backbone and a constant source of support on my journey. Of which I have made numerous mistakes, endeavoured upon misguided adventures and wielded hurtful ambivalence. For that I am truly sorry.

However, I am beyond thankful for the unyielding belief which you have applied to my life. Most of the time, I have no idea where I am headed; but I know, more than anything that wherever that path may take me you will forever be by my side. You are my stability, my one source of never ending acceptance no matter where I am in life or how far I have strayed from the direction that is my true destiny.

So this serves as a dedication to the wonderful woman who is my mother. A woman whose belief in me and the person I’m set to become has never swayed or wavered in my 28 years of existence. You are someone who has trusted in the path even when I have doubted myself and held solid through my own moments of self doubt. You remain the one person in the world whose love is unconditional and whose support will always remain resolute.

In the past few years I’ve attempted to set a tradition in which I take some time to consider my focus for the year ahead. Ushering in a new year is usually welcomed with talk of resolutions, in which, most by mid-year seem to have fallen by the wayside. Instead, I choose to set some higher level goals for which I hope to make concrete progress towards achieving. Last year I vowed to take things as they come and to be present in the here and now without worrying too much about what will happen tomorrow. For the most part, I think I’ve done that quite well and as a result have kept by anxiety pretty well in check in 2016. So as I attempt to celebrate the end of a year and welcome the beginning another here are some of my ‘must-do’s, or more appropriately, ‘attempt to must-do’s’ for 2017.

The most prominent thing for me to invest in next year is to learn sign language. As a part of my work I interact with quite a lot of people, and mainly children, with hearing and speech impairments. I often feel quite vexed at not being able to interact with them and instead rely on second hand information of someone who speaks on their behalf. In 2017, I vow to pursue this and practice my skills within the communities I visit throughout the year.

The next thing on my list is something that I have struggled with for a quite a while since the onset of adulthood; the concept of religion, religious belief and what it means to me. For quite a while now I have stated my frustration with what I perceive to be rigid and unequal systems of belief. I wholeheartedly stand by the statement that I do not subscribe to institutionalised religion as it is my opinion that it discriminates more than it does include. However, in saying all of this, I do still think it is important to set my own standards for belief and spirituality. I am by no means an atheist and do believe in some sort of higher power, although I am yet to define what this is and how my life is affected by its existence. The impending calendar year provides an opportunity for a spiritual pursuit per say, in order to affirm how this plays a role in my existence as a human being and subsequently how I approach this world.

The last thing on this list is probably the most important; to be kinder to myself and not consistently judge myself against other peoples standards. This also entails not comparing my self worth to others and understanding that my mind, my entity, my being and my journey are just that, my own. They are unique and individual to me and will therefore look different to others around me. I realise that I need to work on the aspect of patience and understand that growth and success take time and these will not necessarily appear to me in the form I have envisioned. Instead, they will come into fruition over time and be represented according to a version of what is ultimately meant for me.

So, as 2017 draws nearer by the day, I look forward to reflecting on the investments and lessons learnt of 2016 and building on these in the New Year.